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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Swivel (ARS-36)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - Foxtrot - Lima
 NTFL
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
Weight Class Rescue and Salvage Ship:
  • Authorized under the Lend Lease Act for Great Britain as York Salvor (BARS-8)
  • Laid down, 28 April 1942 at American Car and Foundry Co., Wilmington, DE.
  • Reallocated to the US Navy prior to launching
  • Launched, 6 May 1943
  • Commissioned USS Swivel (ARS-36), 6 October 1943, LTjg. M. C. Sibitsky in command
  • During World War II USS Swivel was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
    Task Group 122.3 - Salvage and Fire Fighting Group (Wreck Dispersal Vessel)
  • Decommissioned, 4 June 1946
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 3 July1946
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 6 December 1946, to L.O. Butts, West Newton, MA.
  • Resold in 1947 to Blue Water Shipping Company Ltd., St.John’s Newfoundland, Canada.
  • USS Swivel earned one battle star for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,232t.(lt) 1,615 t.(fl)
    Length 183' 3"
    Beam 37'
    Draft 14' 8"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 6
    Enlisted 59
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 cal. purpose gun mount
    two single two 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 985 Bbls
    Gasoline 3,000 Gals
    Propulsion
    Cooper Bessemer GND-6 Diesel-electric engines
    three Diesel-drive 40Kw 240V D.C.
    twin propellers, 1,200shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Swivel
    09373603    		 110k Swivel (ARS-36) moored in her builders yard, American Car and Foundry Co., Wilmington, DE., circa September 1943. Joe Radigan
    Swivel 92k Swivel (ARS-36) under way on builder's trials, 28 September 1943, shortly before commissioning.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo No. 19-N-54788 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.Courtesy Shipscribe.com.    		 Robert Hurst
    Swivel 96k USS Swivel (ARS-36) under way, date and location unknown. Capt. Jerry Mason USN Ret.
    Swivel
    09373604    		 159k 26 August 1944 telegram from RADM E.L. Cochrane Chief BUSHPS to the management and works at American Car and Foundry Co., Wilmington, DE., commending them for the sturdy performance of USS Swivel (ARS-36) in salvage operations off the coast of Normandy. Joe Radigan
    USS Swivel (ARS-36)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Sibitsky. Martin Conrad6 October 1943 - ?
    02LT. Brengle, Laurence J. no dates
    03LT. Sanborn, Noyes Vincent? - 4 June 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Salvage Ship (ARS) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 8 April 2022